"One kiss in two let's breathe! Confounded with the touch, But half words let us speak! Our lips employed so much, Until we both grow weak: With sweetness of thy breath, O smother me to death! Long let our joys be such! "Let's laugh at them that choose Their Valentines by lot; To wear their names that use, Whom idly they have got." Saint VALENTINE, befriend! We thus this Morn may spend: Else, Muse, awake her not! _The Heart._ [Illustration] If thus we needs must go; What shall our one Heart do, This One made of our Two? Madam, two Hearts we brake; And from them both did take The best, one Heart to make. Half this is of your Heart, Mine in the other part; Joined by an equal Art. Were it cemented, or sewn; By shreds or pieces known, We might each find our own. But 'tis dissolved and fixed; And with such cunning mixed, No diff'rence that betwixt. But how shall we agree, By whom it kept shall be: Whether by you or me? It cannot two breasts fill; One must be heart-less still, Until the other will. It came to me to-day: When I willed it to say, With Whether would it stay? It told me, "In your breast, Where it might hope to rest: For if it were my guest, "For certainty, it knew That I would still anew Be sending it to you!" Never, I think, had two Such work, so much, to do: A Unity to woo! Yours was so cold and chaste: Whilst mine with zeal did waste; Like Fire with Water placed. How did my Heart intreat! How pant! How did it beat, Till it could give yours heat! Till to that temper brought, Through our perfection wrought, That blessing either's thought. In such a height it lies From this base World's dull eyes; That Heaven it not envies. All that this Earth can show. Our Heart shall not once know! For it's too vile and low. _The Sacrifice to APOLLO._ [Illustration] Priests of APOLLO, sacred be the room For this learned meeting! Let no barbarous groom, How brave soe'er he be, Attempt to enter! But of the Muses free, None here may venture! This for the Delphian Prophets is prepared: The profane Vulgar are from hence debarred! And since the Feast so happily begins; Call up those fair Nine, with their violins! They are begot by JOVE. Then let us place them Where no clown in may shove, That may disgrace them: But let them near to young APOLLO sit; So shall his foot-pace overflow with wit.